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Sign the Petition to

President Barack Obama

Dear President Obama:

For over fifty years,
Colombia has been engaged in an internal armed conflict that has left millions
of victims and a country yearning for peace. Colombians have suffered through
unspeakable violence, forced displacements, kidnappings, widespread massacres,
threats against unionists and human rights activists, and the social exclusion
of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. As part of the National Days of Prayer and Action for
Colombia campaign, we applaud your administration’s support of the peace process
in Colombia and we gather with one message in mind: Now is the Time for Peace with Justice.

For the Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia on
April 26-29, activists around the country are gathering to advocate for
U.S. policies that will work with Colombians to end the armed conflict and
support victims of violence. We advocate for U.S. policy that champions:

· Transformed aid to Colombia in support
of peace, not war. This should
support peace accord implementation, address the needs of victims of violence,
and feature aid for safe, sustainable return of land and other durable
solutions for internally displaced persons and refugees.

· The active participation of victims of
violence and civil society in the peace process. Peace must be built from the
ground up as well as negotiated from the top down. The engagement of every
sector of society – including victims’ associations, displaced communities,
civil society organizations, religious communities, and labor unions – is
necessary to construct a just and sustainable peace;

· An independent truth commission and
strong measures to ensure justice for severe human rights abuses by all parties
to the conflict. Colombians deserve to know the full truth about those who
implemented, ordered, financed and promoted the violence and violations of
human rights and international humanitarian law against the civilian
population, whether they be guerrillas, paramilitary forces, or the
government's own security forces;

· Protection for human rights defenders and rural
communities now and after peace is negotiated so as to protect the civilian
populations still caught in the crossfire, especially the most vulnerable –
Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, women and children, and farmers in
rural areas;

·
Refocusing
counter drug policy to prioritize alternative and sustainable development
policies with input from small farmers.

Our diverse beliefs
and faith traditions, our international service experiences and our civic
commitments compel us to speak now in this critical moment in time. U.S.
support is crucial for addressing the displacement crisis, supporting victims
of violence, providing diplomatic support and protecting those working for
peace as Colombia navigates through this historic moment. Colombians deserve a
chance for peace, and now is the time for U.S. policy that promotes a peaceful
and just end to this decades-long conflict. We urge you to rise to meet this
challenge.

Sincerely,

Signed,

Walker Grooms

This petition closed almost 2 years ago

How this will help

For the past half-century, Colombia has lived an armed conflict in which much of its civilian population has been caught in the middle. Now, in Havana, Cuba, the Colombian government and the...

For the past half-century, Colombia has lived an armed conflict in which much of its civilian population has been caught in the middle. Now, in Havana, Cuba, the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group, the FARC, are in talks to end the conflict. This is a historic opportunity for peace, but a legitimate, lasting peace for all Colombians can only happen if there is justice, truth, and reparations for the conflict's victims, as well as meaningful involvement from victims and broader Colombian civil society in the peace process. The U.S. government can play a positive role in Colombia by supporting this foundation for a just peace, but U.S. citizens must demand that our government's actions do just that. Tell President Obama that NOW is the time for peace with justice!